A portrait lens for my M240 ... suggestions?

Keith

Keith

The best camera is one that still works!
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I've been using my battered old 85mm f2 Zuiko via an adapter and while I really like the output the lens is pretty knackered .... everything is sloppy and the front element has a myriad of cleaning marks that cause significant flare under testing conditions. Also I would prefer something M mount so I can RF focus where appropriate.

My other M mount lenses are Zeiss ZM .... Distagon 25mm, 35mm Biogon and C Sonnar 50mm. I quite like the slight lack of sharpness of the old Zuiko at f2 and would also prefer something that has some of the character of the C Sonnar which produces wonderful OOF areas when you get it right.

Years ago I had an early 90mm Summicron which I quite liked but I had to sell it to survive financially due to lack of employment at the time. I'm open to suggestions and would quite like to see some examples taken with M digitals if possible. Price, within reason, is not a deciding factor.

Thanks in advance. :)
 
Roger Hicks said:
Dear Keith,

Thambar. Seriously!

Failing that (and at the other end of the price scale) 85/2 Jupiter.

Cheers,

R.
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Hi Roger,

I was aware of your liking of the Thambar and I remember seeing some images somewhere taken with one that impressed me.

Out of curiosity do you know what would one expect to pay for a decent example?

Cheers ..... Keith :)
 
There's always the Zuiko 100 f2.8. The earliest iteration was not as coated as the later and gives a 'James Ravillious' look into the sun etc.
 
The 85/2 OM is so small it's hard to think of a similar fast alternative.
Picked up a 100/2 canon ltm the other day that is mighty impressive, probably slightly more ££ than a good 85 OM, but it's a beast of a thing.
Can PM a pic link if you want... my work colleague doesn't want it to be public
 
Keith said:
Hi Roger,

I was aware of your liking of the Thambar and I remember seeing some images somewhere taken with one that impressed me.

Out of curiosity do you know what would one expect to pay for a decent example?

Cheers ..... Keith :)
Click to expand...
Dear Keith,

A mint one in a box can fetch $10,000 US. Subtract the box and $1000+ disappears. Take out the centre spot filter (which I find all but useless) and the original cap (pretty but unnecessary); use a cut-down 200/4 shade instead (I knew someone who was fooled when he bought his "complete" Thambar -- "complete" with non-cut-down hood, otherwise identical to the Thambar item) and buy it in worn condition (but still with perfect glass) and you could probably find one for under $2000 US.

I paid $3000 US for mine (complete, good condition but not mint) maybe six or eight years ago. Anything this rare is going to vary a lot: only 3000 or so were made, as far as I recall. I use it mostly at f/6.3 or f/9, where the softness is detectable but not over-the-top.

Cheers,

R.
 
On my M240 - 75mm f2.5 VC colour Heliar and 90mm F2.8 Hexanon. The Heliar is just so easy to nail focus using the RF patch with stellar sharpness, OOF and colour. The Hexanon needs the EVF to nail it.
 
I've seen portraits made with the 90mm pre-ASPH Summicron-from the 1960's--that I have really liked. Soft-sharp wide open, sharp when stopped down. It's what I would use.
 
Try a 90 Rokkor (Elmar-C) Keith. It surprisingly reminds me of my 50 C-Sonnar, and focusses well on my M bodies (M2 and M3) Sample below from A7S Sony with Rokkor at f4.
90_rokkor_f4_800px.jpg
 
Rob-F said:
I've seen portraits made with the 90mm pre-ASPH Summicron-from the 1960's--that I have really liked. Soft-sharp wide open, sharp when stopped down. It's what I would use.
Click to expand...

Agree with Rob. You can get one of these relatively inexpensively these days, the only down side is that this is a pretty big and heavy lens.

Also consider the Nikkor 105/2.5 in LTM.
 
I've owned and used an M-Rokkor 90mm f/4 for some years and love it: a wonderfully tiny 90 that's a great performer from wide open on. I sometimes find its FoV a little tight, so I recently acquired the Summarit-M 75/2.4 mostly to use with the M-P typ 240. It is a superb performer, wonderful for a wide of range of photography, and great with people/faces.


Leica M-P + Summarit-M 75mm f/2.4
ISO 800 @ f/4 @ 1/60​

I went for the new model (currently at B&H Photo for under $1900), but you can get the f/2.5 version second-hand for as little as $1100 in perfect condition. It's a lens that shoot well beyond its price point.

Both these lenses are wonderful, but the 75mm may well become my second-most-used-lens.

G
 
Nikkor 105/2.5 and a ltm-M adaptor ... my work here is done, although if I found one of those Thambars in good nick I'd probably buy it just to see ...
 
Keith, something tells me that you would be happiest with a sonnar.

You could try a 90/2.8 Elmarit, I like mine. But, in saying that, my most used portrait lens is a 21/3.4. :rolleyes:

If I remember correctly, you had the Summicron and sold it here.
 
Keith said:
My other M mount lenses are Zeiss ZM .... Distagon 25mm, 35mm Biogon and C Sonnar 50mm. I quite like the slight lack of sharpness of the old Zuiko at f2 and would also prefer something that has some of the character of the C Sonnar which produces wonderful OOF areas when you get it right.
Click to expand...

f = 85 ... 105mm:

The most similar M/LTM-mount Tele to your 85/2 Zuiko is the pre-asph Summicron v3, Keith. Almost the same design (an Ernostar; in contrast, older and much larger Summicrons (v1, v2) are double Gauss designs). Beautiful wide open, sharp as a tack for landscapes f2.8 and up. Around US 900 if you look carefully (E49 or E55).

Next are the Nikkor 8.5cm or 10.5cm Sonnars. Since undercorrected, the 10.5cm has beautiful bokeh for portraits, but only gets sharp at infinity f5.6 and up. The 8.5cm is over-corrected, center-sharp at all apertures and distances, but bokeh is a bit more busy wide open. They both run around US 300, more for the black 8.5cm (instead of heavy chrome) version. If you don't mind using LV for critical portraits, the Jupiter-9 is a cheaper alternative. The 8.5cm has Series VII or 48mm filters, the 10.5cm has 52mm filters.

At f2.8, the classic Elmarit v1 (E39) goes for US 300 or so, the Tele Elmarit (E39) or M-Hexanon 90/2.8 (E46) for around US 500. All are great general purpose lenses with beautiful rendering. But: you will have a hard time finding an M-Hexanon that will be matched to your 240 (you might have to use LV, or copper tape on the RF cam).

And then there are the f4 lenses: best bang for the buck is the CLE M-Rokkor (40.5mm filter), very, very sharp and tiny, less than US 300.

f < 85mm:

If you don't mind it a little wider, the 75/2.5 Heliar (43mm filter) is a superb lens, around US 300, usable at all apertures for all purposes and small. Plus, I really like the 240 75mm framelines.

Roland.
 
My Choice

My Choice

135mm Elmar, cheap and flattering for the ladies, and image looks nicer than the old 90, and not as clinical as the tele elmarit.
Step back one pace and you're there!

14042488144_afc07b339a_b.jpg
 
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